Boxing glove



M y 26, 1942. DE Wm A. PORTAL 2,284,300

BOXING GLOVE Filed F eb 1, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR flew/r7 A. PORT!- ATTORNEYj I May 26, 1942.. DE wrr-r A. PORTAL BOXING GLOVE Filed Feb. 1, 1941 s Sheets-Shae; 2

INVENTOR BY Wm ATTORNEY5 mrr A, Peer/74..

DE WITT A. PORTAL BOXING GLOVE v Filed Feb. 1, l94l 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 VENTQ BY I 'Z WQQ I TTORNEY5 Patented May 26, 1942 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOXING GLOVE De Witt A. Portal, San Jose, Calif.

Application February 1, 1941, Serial No. 376,983 (o1. 2-1s) 12 Claims.

This invention relates to boxing gloves, and has for its objects, an improved, thumbless boxing glove provided with a hand grip in the hand pocket in the glove, which grip is relatively resilient so as to partially absorb the shock of a blow delivered by the fist gripping the said grip, thus protecting the hand against injury, and which grip is also shaped to give to the group of fingers of the closed fist a contour across the hitting portion of said group that will distribute the impact of a blow by the fist relatively uniformly,

rather than to localize the greatest force of the impact at one or only several of the group.

Another object of the invention is a boxin glove so shaped and padded as to substantially eliminate the's'erious injuries to the fingers and fist, that are prevalent with use of conventional gloves.

A still further advantage is a boxing glove constructed to substantially eliminate the injuries to the-boxers, as now results from the thumb portions of gloves being thrust into their eyes during a bout, and from the hard lacing on thepalm and wrist side of gloves being scrubbed over the skin, where intentional or unintentional heeling occurs.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following description and in the drawings.

In the drawings, I

Fig. 1 is an elevational View of my improved glove as seen from the palm side, the closed fist being indicated in dotted line in position in the glove.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation View fromthe thumb side.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view from the side opposite that shown on'Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevational View of a normally closed fist and Fig. 5 shows the same fist gripping my improved hand grip that is in the glove, illustrating the manner in which the hand grip functions to level the striking surface of the fist.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View of the manner in which the fist appears in the glove, as well as showing the construction of the glove and arrangement of padding. I

Figs. '7, 8 are plan views of the blanks from which the hand grip may be developed.

Fig. 9 is a sectional View through an assembled hand grip.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line Ill-l0 of Fig.9 and Figs. 11, 12' respectively are perspective and sectional views of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a conventional boxing glove having my invention therein.

In boxing, the legal hitting surfaces of gloves generally include all surfaces except that on the side of fist and wrist oppositethe thumb side oi the glove. The injuries that occur in boxing generally come from the use of a -hook in which the thumb side of the glove is a striking surface, and in a jab or straight blow in which the impact occurs over the proximal phalanges. One of the principal objects of this invention is the provision of improved means for preventing injury to the hand due to the fact that the proximal phalanges of the index and middle (medius) digits or fingers of a normally closed fist; without a hand grip, or with a hand grip in which the sides are substantially parallel, generally project axially of the forearm a greater distance outwardly than the proximal phalanges of the ring (annularis) and little (minimus) fingers.-

Thus in a straight blow, the impact or force is localized on either the proximal phalangesof the index or medius digits or both. One hard blow of the closed fist may almost incapacitate a boxer from obtaining the most out of the fist thereafter, and it is a common occurrence for the hand to swell up after'a bout over that portion of the hand carrying the metacarpal bones connecting with the proximalphalanges of the index and medius digits, due to the localization of the hitting area of the fist to said phalanges.

My invention provides a member within the fist enclosing pocket in the glove that is shaped to level ofi the proximal phalanges of all the four digits, other than the thumb or pollux, so that these phalanges will be dropped along a line substantially perpendicular to the axis of the forearm, as indicated by line YY in Fig. 5. In Fig. 4 the line XX indicates its normal line along which these phalanges are disposed.

Where a substantially parallel sided hand grip is employed substantially the same position of the fingers is assured as is shown in Fig. 4, and this is true irrespective of Whether the axis of the grip is perpendicular to the normal axis of the forearm. Where such parallel sided grip is secured in the hand receiving pocket in the glove in a position substantially perpendicular to the axis of the forearm under actual butting, the hand grip is turned by the hand about an axis set right angles to its longitudinal axis, to lie parallel to line XX (Fig. 5) but by making the thickness of the hand grip greater in that portion grasped by the ring finger (annularis) and little finger (minimus), the proximal phalanges of these latter fingers lie on the same line YY (Fig. 5) with the proximal phalanges of the index and middle fingers, and the force of a straight blow delivered axially of the forearm,

as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5, will be distributed substantially equally among all of the phalanges of the hand, thus practically eliminating all injury to the hand. Preferably, the sides of the hand grip. are divergent fromthe end nearest the thumb, in direction toward the end adjacent the little finger, as indicated in dotted desirable for this purpose.

line in Fig. 5, so as to provide a natural grip for the hand and at the same time bringing the proximal phalanges of the hand out to the desired line. This hand grip is a construction sufliciently resilient to cushion the force of a blow against the. fingers. .1 have found a horse hair filling, or other substance having resiliency, most terial is used, it should be relatively light and fairly resistant to deterioration by perspiration,

and should not pack, but should resumeits normal shape when the grip of the hand is released. The cover of the hand grip may be of anysuit'able material such as leather, fabric or a composition material.

'Another feature of my inventionis a structure in which the hand grip may be secured within the hand receiving pocket in the glove without injury to the lining of said pocket during use of the glove and without objectionably distortingsaid lining; Such structure also is, of a character whereby the hitting phalanges will be kept close to the packing in the outer end of the glove so that under repeated blows there will beno objectionable looseness between said hitting surface and the end of the pocket adjacent said phalanges. This structure will be described in greater detail hereinafter, as well as the provision for retaining the padding of the glove in the desired positions" therein to minimize injury to both the wearer and to his opponent. V

In detail, my improved glove comprises a main body portion I, having a padded wristportiori 2 connected therewith. The'wrist portion defines the sides. of the opening for insertion of the fist surface of the But whatever ma.--

. tween its ends 2|.

"of an elongated strap, generally indicated at I9 (Fig.8) which strap is relatively wide at 20, be-

Said ends 2| may be reduced in. width to'about the width of margins I6, and tlie'width of the tabs I8 that are in extension of said margins.

In assembling the strap and blank, the margins I6 are brought to overlying relation with each other, and on the ends ZI of 'strapi I9 is'placed over the margins in a position extending longitudinally of the latter so that the juncture of portions 20, 2| of said strap, at said one end of the latter, is disposed about on a line with the bases of slits I! that are at the smaller width I end of blank I9. After this, the said one end 2| 4 into the pocket 5 within the glove, with said wrist portion extending several inches over the forearm when the fist is in pocket 5. A lining 6 within the glove supports the padding I of horsehair, or the like, thereinbetween the leather outer side 8 of the glove and said lining.

The pocket formed by'lining Ii is shaped to closely receive the closed fist of a hand, so as to insure against objectionable looseness of the fist within the glove, and the sideof the Wrist portion, 2 of saidglove that is substantially directly below the little finger is provided with a lace or zipper 9 for closing the wrist portion of the glove about the wrist.

The provision of the lace or 2ipper" along the side of the wrist portion, as described above, substantially precludes the manipulation of the glove by the wearer in a. manner that will injure his opponent, as by heeling or scrubbing the laces.

over the face of such opponent. It is to be noted.

that the side of the glove on which the lacing is positioned is an illegal hitting surface under-present rules of boxing, whereas the palm side of the.

gripped by the hand, may be formed from a blank I5 (Fig. 8) which blank may be of. leather, fabric, or the like. Said blank has two divergently extending opposite edges so that an elongated frusto-conical roll or grip will be formed when the blank is rolled to bring margins I6 along said' divergent edges together, The other two edges of the blank may be substantially similarly curved longitudinally thereof with the margin and the margins I6 may be stitched or secured together, so that ventilating openings 22 in said margins I6 and openings 23 in the portion 2| are in registration.

After the above is done, the strap I9 is brought over'thesmaller' diameter end of the tubular or comically-shaped hand grip, in which: position the said smaller end of the grip' will be in the position indicated at 24, in dotted line (Fig. 8), and said end will be'closed by the strap. Tabs I8 may be folded outwardly, as indicated, and stitched tothe portion of strap I9 around the smallerend of the hand grip.

The hollow, tubular grip, formed as above described, is packed full of horsehair 25, or other packing, and the upper end strip 2| is secured to overlapping margin I6, with holes 22' in said margin in register with the holes 23' of said opposite .end portion. Tabs I8, I8 at the larger end of the hand grip are secured to strap I9 in the same manner as already described for the smaller end, and when this is done, the larger end of said tubular grip is in the position indicated of the hand and knuckles, after the grip is tightly gripped in the fist, and as the overlapping margins I6 are on the side of the grip toward the wrist, they-do not chafe the hand in any way. The space between portion 20 of the strap I0 and the side of the hand grip adjacent thereto, is such that the fingers are snugly held between said strip and said side without appreciable looseness. Thus, a blow against strap 20 will be directly transmitted to the fist without any material play between the strap and fist.

The assembly described above is now positioned in the hand'receiving pocket 5 in the glove, at its outer end of the pocket, and may be stitched or cemented to the lining 6, as desired. It is manifest, of course, that the hand grip may be secured directly to the lining, but the assembly, as described, facilitatesfittingf the hand in the space between the grip and strap, even though'there ay be a slight variation in the size of the hand receiving pocket. Alsosince the strap and' grip are a unit, and the impact of blows is directly transmitted to the stra the possible distortion or injury to the lining in the hand receiving pocket is practically eliminatedf The securement of 'the'strap 29 to its lining, being ahead of the ends of the hand grip, will not cause a direct pull on the lining at the ends of the grip, although in certain instances the strap may be extended to cover the thumb side of the fist, as will be laterv described. 7

Another feature of my invention, is the provision of ventilating openings 26 in the outer covering of the glove at the side adjacent lace 9 (Fig.

3) Thumbless gloves having padding on all sides, preferably require such openings, to permit drying and to relieve air pressure that is in the glove when a blow is delivered.

The outer covering 8 of the glove is preferably formed with a closed end along line 21 (Figs. 1,

2) where said end is stitched or secured to padded portion 28 that is over the thumb, and a line of stitching 29 may be extended from one end of line 29 to the wrist adjacent the thumb side of the glove, which stitching extends through the padding to the lining so as to hold the padding in position over the thumb, inasmuch as this padding tends to be rolled away from the thumb knuckle at the juncture of the proximal phalanx and the metacarpal. The stitching through the padding may also be along line 30 down the palm side (Fig. 1), but it must be understood that the padding, although compressed along the lines of stitching 29, 30, still coversthe fist at said lines,

and ofiers full protection.

Referring to Figs. 11, 12, I show a.slightly modified form of construction, in which the main body of the glove is substantially identical with the structure already described. This modified form also includes the tapered hand grip, indicated at and the strap 3| to which the ends of said grip are secured, and which strap extends over the proximal phalanges of the fingers, other than the thumb. However, in this form of the invention there is an extension 32 on strap 3| that is adapted to cover the thumb, including the proximal phalanx of the latter and the juncture of the latter with the metacarpal. The strap 3| and extension 32 are both covered with a resilient padding secured thereto, which padding may be of sponge rubber and the margin of the strap and extension may be sewed to the lining to secure them in position with the padding in the body of the glove adjacent such rubber slightly decreased in thickness to form a sort of pocket for the rubber in the lining where the rubber is positioned. Of course the rubber itself may be secured to both the lining and to the strap and extension.

In some instances, as in schools, where the gloves must be used for long periods oftime, it is preferable that the covering over the thumb be free from securement to the lining, but stiffened against a tendency to roll up when the 4 hand is inserted in the glove, and in such case, a

stifiener in said extension 32, such as a piano wire 33, may be used, which wire is, of course, secured on the outer side of the extension 32 between the rubber padding 34 and the extension. The padding of rubber 35 on the strap 3| may be co-extensive with padding 34. This padding 34, 35, being secured to the strap 3| and extension 32, and in a recess in the pocket defined by the lining, also functions to prevent stuffing of the padding in the body of the glove outwardly of the rubber, which is highly important.

In appearance, my improved glove does not vary greatly from conventional gloves, when the fist is closed in the latter type, but the padding over the outer end of the glove isvgreatest, with a greater fullness over the thumb, and the remaining sides are tapered toward the wrist, as best indicated in Figs. 6 and 12.

By the structure described, the padding in my glove is where most protection is afiorded to the fist, and by the same arrangement, the opponent of the user is protected against injury by possible illegal tactics or unintentional illegal blows, such as by thumbing an opponent in the eye, or heeling with the palm side of the glove at the wrist lacing. r

The hand grip may be constructed in various ways, but in any event it must be shaped to level ofi the proximal phalanges of the four fingers, while maintaining as nearly as possible the line of said phalanges across their hitting surface at about right angles to the axis of the forearm. In order to do this the trip must be of increasing thickness from the index finger toward the little finger. This is one of the most important features of my invention. The use of a straight, substantially parallel sided hand grip will not accomplish the desired results. Also it is preferable that the hand grip be covered at its ends by padding and that the grip be relatively resilient, and not so hard as to prevent some absorption of the shock on the fingers resulting the proximal phalanges and knuckles, is also highlydesirable as. has already been explained, since there should be no substantial looseness between the proximal phalanges of the hand gripping the hand grip and the outer end of the hand receiving pocket in the glove. I

In thumbless boxing gloves of the type described, the naturally closed fistbrings the thumb in overlapping relation to the index-finger, as illustrated in Fig. 5, which relationship is desirable and is not possible in conventional gloves having a thumb socket. The construction of a lacing or to a zipper on the wrist portion might obviously be substituted by elastic, as in conventional boxing gloves, thus enabling the gloves to be quickly slipped on and off. Also the thumbless feature eliminates the possibilityof a boxer holding his opponent, as is done where thumb portions are now used and which is illegal.

Finally, I wish to point out that while the tapered hand grip is most effective in the thumbless glove, as described, it is valuable even in conventional gloves, where it could be substituted for the ordinary roll in the palm side of'a glove, such cylindrical roll being shown in United States patent to Bridgewater 1,534,906, dated April 21, 1925, and as illustrated in Fig. 13-on a conventional glove at 40.

Having describedmy invention, I claim:

1. In a boxing glove, an elongated element secured to said glove in a position to be substantially enclosed by the fingers of a closed fist when such fist is fitted in said glove, the portion of said element adapted to be enclosed by the ring and little fingers of such fist being greater in thickness than the portion adapted to be enclosed by the remaining fingers, whereby the proximal phalanges of said ring and little fingers will be supported by said first mentioned portion in a plane nearer to a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the forearm carrying said fist than the plane in which said phalanges are normally disposed when the fingers of such fist are clenched free from said element.

'2. In a boxing glove, an elongated element secured to said glove in a position to be substantially enclosed by the fingers of a closed fist when such fist is fitted in said glove, said ele-" ment being substantially frusto-conical in shape with its end portion oifgreater thickness posi tioned for gripping by th little finger of such fist. I

3. In a boxing glove having a fist receiving pocket or cavity formed therein arranged and adapted to relatively closely receive the' closed fist of a wearer, an elongated element extending across said pocket and secured therein at its opposite ends in aposition forv gripping by the fingers of such fist, said element terminating atits ends adjacent the outer sides of the little and index fingers of such fist and being of progresslvely increased thickness from the end thereof that is adapted to terminate adjacent said index finger in direction toward its opposite end.

4. A hand-grip for grasping by the fingers of a clenched fist of a boxercomprising an elongated element of generally frusto-conical shape and of a length substantially the width of such fist in direction across the palm from the little to the index finger, the thickness of said element at its larger end being such that the little and ring fingers of such fist will partially encircle the same with the proximal phalanges of said ring and little fingers supported on a plane substantially nearerto a plane at right angles to-xthe longitudinal axis of the forearm carrying such fist than the plane in which said phalanges are disposed when the, fingers are clenched free from said grip, when said grip is in a clenched fist with the smaller end adjacent the index finger.

5. In a construction as defined in claim 4, means for securing said hand grip to said fist comprising a relatively widestrap secured to said element at its opposite ends arranged and the ele'ment is gripped within said fist with said strap extending over said proximal phalanges.

9. In a boxing glove having a lining therein defining a fist receiving cavity, a hand grip fitted within said cavity including an elongated elesaid' phalanges when said element is gripped within said fist, an extension on said strap extending over the thumb side of said fist, and a padding of resilient material covering said strap and said extension, and means securing said strap to said lining for securing said hand grip in said cavity.

10. A thumbless boxing glove including a lining forming a hand receiving pocket and an F outer covering substantially surrounding said lining; padding between said lining and said pocket and substantially completely surrounding the former; a ventilating opening in said outer cover positioned on the palm side of said glove but adjacent the edge Of the body of a hand to be positioned in said pocket below the littl finger of such hand, and means secured within said pocket arranged and adapted to be grasped in a adapted to extend across the backs of the proximal phalanges of the index to little fingers of said'fist, and a padding of resilient material secured to said strap substantially covering the same.

6. In a construction as defined in claim 4, means for seeming said hand grip to said fist comprising a relatively wide strap secured to said element at its opposite ends arranged and adapted to extend across the backs of the proximal phalanges of theindex to little fingers of said fist, a piece ofiflexible sheet material secured to said hand grip adapted to extend over the thumb side'of such fist when the hand grip is grasped by the fingers of said fist, said flexible sheet material including padding of resilient material secured thereto and substantially covering the same. I

7. In a boxing glove having a lining therein defining a fist receiving cavity, a hand grip fitter within said cavity including an elongated element arranged and adapted to be gripped within a closed fist by the fingers of such fist with the opposite ends of said element terminating at the opposite sides of such fist adjacent the index and little fingers; and a relatively wide strap secured to the ends of said element arranged and adapted to extend over the proximal phalanges of the index to little fingers, inclusive, in relatively close engagement with said, phalanges when said element is gripped within said fist, and means securing said strap to said lining for securing said hand grip in said cavity.

8. In a construction as defined in claim 7, an extension secured to said strap arranged and adapted to extend over the thumb side of saidfist including the knuckle'of said thumb when 75 clenched hand therein for supporting said glove in a position with said ventilating opening in said position. v

11. In a boxing glove, an elongated element secured to said glove in a position to be grasped by the fingers of the hand of a wearer in said glove when the fingers are closed to form a closed fist; said element extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of such glove, said glove being provided with a hand receiving opening at its wrist v encircling'end and the side. of said element facing outwardly of said opening being positioned to engage th palm sides of the proximal phalanges of said fingers when the said element is grasped by said fingers; said side of said element extending slantingly longitudinally of said element from one end to the other thereof relative to said axis with the portion of said side to be engagedby the little and ring fingers of said hand being disposed more remote from said wrist portion than the portion of said side to be engaged by the index finger of said hand whereby the back sides of the proximal phalanges of the fingers of said. hand will be supported in a line substantially at right angles to the said axis when said fingers are in said pocket grasping said element.

12. In a boxing glove including a layer 'of padding of substantialthickness covering the thumb and little finger sides of said glove and extending over the thumb and little finger sides of a hand disposed within 'said glove, an elongated element secured to said glove in a position to be substantially enclosedby'the fingers of such hand when said hand is within said glove and is closed to form a closed fist, said element being of a material'relatively'fiexible and compressible in said hand to yield'under the force. of a blow delivered by said fist and'the said padding extending over the opposite endsof said element to cushion the ends of said element against the force of blows delivered: bythe thumb and little finger sides of said glove.

' DE WITI A. PORTAL. 

